1.(SBU) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST CABLE. Embassy Moscow
please see paragraph 2.

2. (SBU) BACKGROUND AND ACTION REQUEST. Embassy Moscow is
requested to pass to Col. Evgeniy Il'in, Main
Directorate of International Military Cooperation, Ministry
of Defense, the letter and delegation list at
paragraph 4. The letter proposes a meeting of site security
technical experts for the purpose of responding
to the Russian MOD Foreign Liaison Directorate's Note #3566
of September 28, 2007. This note requested
information on U.S. requirements for site security for the
building that will be selected to house the U.S.- Russia
Joint Data Exchange Center (JDEC). Washington proposes to
hold the experts meeting on August 5 in Moscow.
Additionally, Embassy Moscow is requested to deliver to Col.
Il'in and appropriate Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Ministry of Defense officials the non-paper below in
paragraph 5 proposing a meeting of legal experts on JDEC
taxation issues on August 6 (or August 7) in Moscow. The
U.S. delegations for both meetings would
total approximately 12 people and will include an
interpreter. The highest level of U.S. representation for
these meetings is not expected to be higher than the rank of
Colonel (Naval Captain) or its civilian equivalent.

3. (SBU) When delivering the letter and non-paper, post
should urge a Russian response to the proposed meeting dates
as soon as possible, but not later than July 31. This will
facilitate preparation and planning, including administrative
arrangements for the trip.

Based upon the conversation you and I had on the margins
of the 25 June 2008 JDEC meeting in Moscow, JDEC experts
from the United States (see attached) are making plans to
meet with you and other Russian JDEC experts on Tuesday, 5
August 2008 to discuss the physical security requirements
for the future JDEC site.

Along with the rest of the U.S. JDEC delegation, I look
forward to meeting with your JDEC team on 5 August.

-- In view of the constructive meeting of U.S. and Russian
legal experts on Joint Data Exchange Center (JDEC)
liability issues on June 25, and since there is overlap
between the JDEC site security delegation and the JDEC
legal experts delegation, the United States would like to
propose a meeting on Wednesday, August 6 (or August 7 if the
JDEC site security experts meet on August 6) on JDEC taxation
issues.

-- For your reference, the U.S. position on taxation is
incorporated into the U.S. proposal for a "Joint Statement
Regarding the Issues of Liability and the Imposition of
Taxes." (Provided to the Russian MFA on June 5, 2008.)

-- U.S. legal experts not on the site security delegation
would arrive in Moscow a day later and be available to
participate in a JDEC taxation meeting in Moscow on August 6
(or August 7).

-- This would be a good opportunity to make as much progress
as possible in resolving outstanding JDEC legal
issues.

-- Alternatively, if Russian taxation experts are not
available on August 6 or 7, the United States proposes a
legal experts meeting to consider both liability and taxation
issues on September 24 in Washington, D.C.

-- The U.S. legal delegation would consist of the following
individuals:
John Arbogast (Department of State - Head of Delegation),
Carl Tierney (Department of Defense), TBD (Department of
Defense, Joint Staff), Steve Rosenkrantz (Department of
State), Phil Jamison (Department of Defense), Daniel Roh
(Department of Defense), Brad Martin (Department of Defense,
U.S.Strategic Command), and USG Interpreter-TBD.

END TEXT OF NON-PAPER.

6. (SBU) Department POC for this issue is ISN/MDSP,s
Steven Rosenkrantz (202-647-8140 or
rosenkrantzsj@state.sgov.gov). Please slug any reporting on
JDEC matters for ISN/MDSP and EUR/PRA.
RICE

With a bit of luck the planet won’t be devastated by nuclear war in the next few days. US President Donald Trump will have begun to fixate on some other way to gratify his self-esteem – maybe by invading Venezuela or starting a war with Iran. More>>

ACLU: Step by step, point by point, the court laid out what has been clear from the start: The president promised to ban Muslims from the United States, and his executive orders are an attempt to do just that. More>>